Guatemala - September 28, 2009

Hello! I'm just great, and how are all of you doing? Wow, sounds like ya' had a busy week, I'm sure glad to hear that your all fine and working hard at it. Man, can you believe that it is already October (pretty much)? We still have one month of rain, we more rain in the last week than we have the whole rest of the season! My companion only has two pairs of shoes, so he usually walks around with wet shoes (they take two days to dry). The area is beautiful, I love the people and the land. The people here are very hard hearted though, so we are working on that right now. My companion is great, we are getting along just fine and working hard. So this week is conference week; I'm so exited to listen to the prophet! I'm just about to finish reading the last Liahona conference edition, and am looking forward to more instruction from the leaders of the church. I encourage all of you to listen to all the sessions! Remember always the importance of family home evening and personal and family prayer and scripture study. These are the fruits of our faith, when we do them we are showing the Lord that we want to receive the blessings and help that he is so willing to give. I love you and thank each of you for all that you have done for me. I hope that all your activities will go well for you. Remember where the help really comes from. Dad, take care of your self OK :) If you ever need anything, let me know, I'm a servant of the Lord, and want to serve. I'm good here, and the work goes on!
con amor para siempre su hermano hijo y misionero
Elder Grover

Guatemala - September 22, 2009

Hey mom and familia, sorry i could not write yesterday, we had things to do. So I'm with the zone leaders today writing to tell you I'm fine, and you have nothing to worry about. You had a question about president? That's really weird that he has not gotten in contact with you, he is really an awesome and powerful servant of the Lord, I like him a lot, and have a lot of respect for him. Today he came all the way to Malacatan just to talk to our zone, it was awesome! The mission is changing; well, all the Central American missions are making some big changes. We are living in a very critical time, and the Lord is giving us the chance to prepare. I'm so happy to be here in the mission field. So, it sounds like the familia is doing good, and you all are working hard in your activities. I pray that you all will have the Holy Ghost to guide you and protect you. You should all prepare for General Conference in two weeks! I'm so excited to hear the prophet and the twelve again, it is a big blessing. So, I'm fine in my new area. We still don't have all that we need to be comfortable, but we are happy and working hard. I get along with my companion really well, we both have the same desire to serve with all we can, and that is what we are going to do. I thank you all so much for your prayers, they are very important to me and this work. I love you all with all my heart, God bless you!
Con Mucho Amor Para Siempre
Elder Grover

Guatemala - September 15, 2009

So, how are y'all? It sounds like you all are having a good time there, and staying busy, that is great! So sorry about yesterday, it was change day, so I was in a bus all day. Now I'm here in Malaktan zone, the state is San Marcos, and my area is on the border of Mexico. It is a small branch again, but we are opening it; there have not been missionaries there for seven months, so ya crazy we had to carry everything in on this little road and our house is really cool just empty we have nothing... but it is awesome. My companion has been out 5 months and is from Mexico, so I don't speak any English now, it is a thing of the past. It is pretty hard, but aki estamos! So last Saturday we had a baptism, and I hope that I can go back to my old area and baptize the family we were teaching - we will see what happens. Elder Snow is going to train. The 15th is their Independance Day here in Guatemala, so things are kind of mixed up right now. It might take longer to get letters because we are out in the middle of nowhere, but I will still write! I need to find the post office, but first we just have to find other stuff like beds, water, and gas to cook food - oh, and food! But we are going to do all that today; we will be fine, don't worry about me. So, I imagine there will be lots of questions, but you are going to have to wait till next week because we live a ways away from the city, the name of the area is La Batalla. Man, this change is hard, I was not expecting it to be so hard. I really liked my old area and it was hard to leave. But this is going to be a big adventure, this is what it's all about, I hope that we can serve the Lord well here. But I love you all, and may God's blessings pour out to you. He lives, and this is his work and his glory!
con amor,
Elder Grover

Guatemala - September 7, 2009

I got a letter from Jordan, he does sound a little razzled, but he will get in the hang of things, and he can call you every day so that is neat. Man, it is good to hear that everyone is gung-ho in school and sports. That is one thing that I like about the sports and stuff, it taught me to push through the hard times to get to the good times. We have had a difficult change, but the Lord has blessed us so much. This Saturday we have a baptism, her name is Josselin, and she is the older sister of our last baptism, Dairy, we are so happy. The change will end next week and we are sure that one of us is gone. We are sad because we found a really awesome family, and they are so positive. We hope to find more families because that is what we are supposed to do in this mission. Also, we have the responsibility of retention, talk about hard stuff, and helping and keeping marriages, and dealing with jobs, or no jobs. You just can't imagine, there are people selling the only possessions they have to put food on the table (there are not many that have anything to sale). There are kids that go without meals, and not because they are fasting, these are members of the church. But they are living and happy because of the church. So I'm good, I think my health is holding up, it is just hard to keep the stomach OK, but I'm in good hands so don't worry. Elder Snow had an anal fissur, along with a few rounds of amoebas - yeah, not so good, but I think he is getting better. So dad went to the doc, huh? Follow the right steps then Dad, that means do what they say, OK? I hope all is good there, I put you all in the Lord's hands, my trust is in him. Read the articles from the August ensign about Prayer and the conference talk from Elder Nelson about the Lord's prayer. Prayer is so important, have faith in it. I Love you all, take care, and remember the blessings come from the Lord Almighty!
Con Mucho Amor Para Siempre
Elder Grover

Guatemala - August 31, 2009

Hey familia, how are you all doing? It sounds like you got the RM all settled in, that's really good to hear. So things are still going fast and all huh? Don't worry, it will be a lot slower with me :) Hey, so I have a lot of questions, I hope that I will find out a little 'cuz I only talk to you all, and no one else, so I feel a little out in the dark some times. OK, Jesse played Kanab again, or someone else? Jade took tenth, where? Jens is playing football or running? And McKady is running? How are McKady and dad healing up? You said that dad and Jordan had doctor appointments, how did that go? How are things with your new calling, mom? When is Candice going to have the baby? Is it a boy or girl? Have you got the package and pictures, and the e-mail of pictures? Have you heard from my mission president? How are all of you doing on your reading of the Book of Mormon? :) Now I will answer your questions, I'm good... really, I'm fine. I got over a few little sicknesses, and am working hard. Elder Snow is doing better, I think that he will go to Xela, and I will stay in the area for another month, but we will see how it all goes in two weeks. Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! How many years? Happy Birthday to you, Jens and Kristy, have a good one! Y ser felices! Not much news to tell, but I do have scripture for dad, D&C 109:22; tell me your feelings on it. I hope all is going good for you all and that you always remember to put God first, and he will help you. I thank each of you for your prayers and love and all that you have ever done for me. I also want to ask forgiveness for my short comings and contentions that we may have had in the past. I know the importance of families, and that they are really forever. Until next week. . .
Love Elder Grover